Westvaleparent cites the National Institutes of Health, which says 9 percent of marijuana users may become addicts. The percentages increase among younger and more regular users, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

But DrDuh writes about the dangers of other drugs, like prescription painkillers. "I would vastly prefer to be able to write a script for marijuana for those patients," DrDuh writes. "If had chronic back pain and were unable to sleep, I would choose marijuana over vicodin/percocet every day and twice on Sunday." The writer also cites the above addiction risks but counters that risk pales in comparison with the public health burden associated with alcohol and cigarette use.

Like others, those, this reader worries that sanctioning marijuana for medical use will lead to more availability for anyone who wants to smoke pot.

CNYDJM takes a more pragmatic view. "Myrick is absolutely right about this, and I'm not sure we should stop at marijuana. We've wasted untold billions on trying to enforce the unenforceable. Regulate and tax. We've got budget deficits to close."

Join the conversation. I'm working on a larger story about what's happening with marijuana in other states and what that could mean for New York. Let me know what sources you turn to in this debate. Do you think New York should join the 18 states that already allow medical marijuana or the few states like Colorado and Washington that have made moves to decriminalize the drug?

For the record, Myrick does not advocate smoking marijuana. But he thinks patients should have the option and police should focus on other drugs, like cocaine or heroin.